FORT MYERS, Fla. -- After opening its season with a fourth-place finish at the All-Florida Invitational, the Miami Hurricanes swimming & diving team opens its dual meet schedule Friday with a trip to Florida Gulf Coast.

"The All-Florida Invitational was a great way to
start, but it doesn't really put you in a dual meet-style of thinking," head swimming coach Christie Shefchunas said. "It'll be interesting to see how our team responds. I'm definitely excited."

Coach Shefchunas and her staff has good reason to be excited if results from last weekend's All-Florida Invite are any indication. Strong performances from some of the Hurricanes' most veteran competitors, including seniors Sofia Johansson and Hannah Kling, highlighted an impressive opening weekend in Gainesville.

"Our
seniors are such a strong group," Shefchunas added. "I've come to know that whenever given the chance,
they always step up. There's a level of confidence there, that they just know they're going to do
big things."

Not to be outdone, freshmen My Fridell and Katie Ligon, alongside sophomore Lucy Worrall, kept Miami in contention for the duration of the weekend. Fridell competed in the Hurricanes' lead entry in multiple medleys, while Ligon (eight-place finish in the 200 Backstroke "A" final) and Worrall (seventh, 200 Butterfly "A" final) also shined.

"Lucy
is only a sophomore, but I look at her as one of the leaders of this team," Shefchunas said. "The
whole freshman class are very, very hard workers. It leads me to think they could leave here after awesome careers."

After their dual meet with the Eagles, the Hurricanes will open their home schedule with a meet against visiting Houston on Saturday, Oct. 13. The meet, held at the Whitten University Center Pool, is set for 10 a.m.